Jack Handey

How is today any different than yesterday? Like you I look out my window and don't see much different. What I can tell you is that I'm not qualified to answer. The question is better suited for public health officials, doctors, etc. Thanks to all who had patience to wait things out. Will my kids skate? Certainly considering it. They put on their pads a few days ago and everything is too small.

I am staying home and if nothing happens to you, you can thank me later. You can stay home too. You got this. And for all the new overnight pulmonary experts, here's a medical tip: Yellow is not Green. It seems this basic scientific fact has eluded you on your way to your instant MD.

This is ALL ABOUT protecting my kids. And protecting myself too. No, we're soccer, lacrosse, and track this time of year. Miss those too, but this is really about protecting kids and families at tryouts like I said from the start. It's about staying alive. I like life. Big fan. I like my life, my kids' lives, your lives, your kids' lives, and all the kids' gramma's lives. When my team plays your team this year, I want 100% of your team, my team, every coach, every official, and every cow-bell-ringing gramma to be there. It will be a great game, I'm looking forward to it. What I don't want is any single one of those people to miss out on the fun that is our game. Especially if their absence could have been so easily prevented. My kids are not tested. I'm not tested. We could be carriers. I don't know. You don't know. You and your kids could be carriers. You don't know. I don't know. But our lives, your life, your kids' lives, your gramma's life are all more important than my kids' need for hockey. So we can wait a little while. From the trenches, if you've not been: hockey brings all kinds of opportunity for fluid exchange. Spit. Hockers. Snot. Coughing. Vomit. Blood. Even something as simple as a coach delivering a spirited talk at the whiteboard, spittle flying through his teeth and lips while kids take a knee, shoulder to shoulder, heavy breathing from the last drill, rapidly inhaling and exhaling. We have enough uncertainty with this virus. By getting together in large groups under yellow, some of us are compounding that uncertainty. Do your kids and yourselves and my kids and me and all grammas a favor: stay home for a few more weeks. Hockey will still be there when we go green.

I'm worried that people who are pretty smart at science, medicine, microbiology, etc have issued recommendations for the benefit of the public good, and that hockey coaches by night and whatever else they are by day have decided they know better.

What's best is probably not within the bounds of reality. I'm guessing they'll need to grease the palms in the legal community instead. If an association has knowledge that its coaches and players are practicing, they could be held accountable once mid-am goes green if a future outbreak occurs. It's probably a good time for board members to pick up some (more) personal liability insurance.

Yeah I can't get into a forensics debate here, but it won't take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened if there is outbreak amongst a group of people who collectively engaged in a risky activity. On the bright side, 99% will survive. Odds are in your favor.

It is well known now that some very specific USAH coaches, hockey parents, and players are willfully disobeying public health orders. There is news today of fall team prospects now practicing together. Some may now be infected, or may now be carriers of infection. Allowing these coaches and players to participate in a tryout is now a serious health risk. Can we assume that local associations will protect their memberships, and require a negative COVID-19 test on these people before tryouts?

This is correct. With a dedicated coach, you can get training as good as "elite" level at any local organization.

1. Agree with you Nemesis. I think the moderator was more concerned with protecting the ID of the original poster than protecting the anonymity of the violating rink. But we should be able to talk about controversial tidbits. Outing a violator is probably in the best interest for public health. Worst case scenario: positive cases of the virus will spike upward, progress to green status will be halted, season will be further delayed or even canceled. If that happens, you can blame the rink or blame the dude needing his quick buck off a clinic. I will blame both. 2. I wouldn't worry much about not being able to practice while other kids are practicing. Suppose a few kids are getting a few weeks head start. It will all even out by the start of the season. If there is a season. And lets be honest - anyone working on ice hockey specific skills in May is probably on the path to burn out. Kids should be outside doing lacrosse, baseball, soccer, and track/field. 3. USA Hockey has no jurisdiction over a private business and no jurisdiction over a private transaction (sale of ice to guy running clinic). OMG I've turned into the King! I'm sure USAH can issue dirty looks though. A fourth point of interest, worthy of discussion, is insurance. USAH liability coverage does not apply in this case. Maybe rink is protected through another insurance. Maybe ISI? Opening the doors with no liability insurance would seem like a big risk. I would like to hear more comments on that if anyone has knowledge to share.

this came out yesterday

When do we think hockey will be back?

It's clear that it's personal with you. Whatever USA Hockey did to you... it's personal. You've said your peace over and over on this forum. We get it. Now, on behalf of the people who just want to read and talk about local hockey, we'd all wish you'd put it to rest. It's a tired message. Focus on the positive. Focus on local. Please.

Yes, it was a controversial, unsavory decision on that hiring. That same organization has obviously heard the outcry, and strengthened its stance on the issue of discrimination. It increased the severity in disciplinary measures for expressed prejudice. It formed a new outreach program led by a national director of diversity and inclusion. Let's really own our stance though. Well before SafeSport and well before that hiring, and for as long as I can remember, race and gender have been hot topic at every national meeting, every district meeting, and even occasionally at our local meetings. Even as recent as January - the local league executive director outlined a need for a diversity & inclusion committee to assess and act in our market. Numerous match penalties were handed out this season under the new ruling mentioned above. So yeah, one high profile wart vs thousands of people governed and positively guided by national membership policy. But let's burn it all down per the King. And regarding your disciplinary report, it's probably a good thing that you didn't get it. There are summarized discipline reports handed out all the time at district and local level meetings. Why didn't you just work through your local member association to obtain? Was the answer going to be a definitive go-pound-salt? And who the heck asks for this kind of stuff anyway? It seems you've got some more ax to grind, in which case I have to applaud the governing body's position.

yep. first time ever in this forum.

yes, and more allegations and more hearsay. And still zero evidence.

Oh no you don't. You're the one alleging corruption and crying foul every day on this forum. So we're all ears, King.

The bylaws say registrar is an appointed position.

Well before we dive into more allegations, could you point out some fraud in the Mid-Am contractor line item expense, or any other Mid-Am expense? Maybe a concerned member could ask about it at the next meeting.

The entire line item for all contractors is $182k. Guessing that covers camp instructors, tournament officials, EMTs, etc. So its unlikely anyone is getting rich or wealthy from Mid-Am. And since it's a 501c3, any member should be able to request a look at the books and ask the questions you're asking. Why not get with your local association membership, show up at the annual meeting, and ask your questions then?

1. looks like Mid-Am had an independent audit recently. https://www.midamhockey.com/page/show/5328529-financials unless you are talking about your experience with another affiliate? 2. are you saying state/local should monitor federal or other way around? I could see a need for more accountability at the local level. 3. given the current payment structure, it seems federal can't fund anything as they are already funded by local resources. And in what way are they not already providing a unified objective structure?

I'd say as the only one calling for reform on the message board, you are alone in your principle. So let's have it - what's the top 3 things you would do to eliminate corruption?

From the sound of it, it is member organizations requesting guidance from the district.

I heard there was a PAHL meeting and talk of a league-wide suspension of tryouts. But since the independent programs don't answer to PAHL, there is a need to move the discussion of suspending tryouts further up the chain of authority.

This is surely 100% true. Not in my organization. April decisions are made in April.

Costs you nothing. Please sign.